07:10Mandatory credit: UNTV, News use only
Lawyer Daniel Kovalik, journalist Jackson Hinkle and the International Secretary of the Communist Party Christopher Helali shared their experiences of a visit to the Donbass, stating that 'this war did not begin in 2022, it began in 2014' and criticising the West's 'myopic narratives', in a press conference on Wednesday at the UN headquarters in New York City.
"We were not hosted by the Russian government. We weren't even hosted by Russian citizens. We were hosted the entire time by people who were born in Ukraine," noted lawyer Dan Kovalik.
Kovalik explained that their host had been present at the Odessa Trade Union Building on May 2, 2014, when 'rioters who were loyal to Kiev burned the building down with people inside it, murdering 48'. He stated that it 'helped spur on the people of Lugansk and Donetsk to seek independence from Ukraine because it was targeted against Russian-speaking people'.
The lawyers stated that some believe the 'right to independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics is greater than that of Kosovo, while the West has chosen to recognise 'Kosovo as an independent republic' but not 'Donetsk and Lugansk, for political reasons'.
Kovalik also claimed that Kiev is 'shelling civilian buildings', after which 'the Russians go in and help start rebuilding'. "I'd like to compare that to how Israel is going to treat the people of Gaza after they've destroyed 75% of their infrastructure," he concluded.
International Communist Party secretary Christopher Helali reported visiting 'mass graves containing hundreds of dead civilians' and claimed there were 'instances of war crimes committed by the Ukrainian military'.
"What we discovered provided a completely different understanding that went beyond the myopic narratives proffered by the mainstream media here in the United States and in the West," said Jelali, adding that "this war did not begin in 2022 with Russia's special military operation; rather, it began in 2014."
"I want to emphasise this point: The people of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics in the Donbass have endured a decade of bombardment, terrorism, and brutality, all of which have been severely under-reported or even misreported in the West," said Jelali.
Jelali said that their delegation included two Georgian citizens, adding that they 'fear that the next front for the United States and NATO will be in the Caucasus as it was in 2007-2008'.
Journalist Jackson Hinkle reported seeing civilian infrastructure in the city of Tokmak in the Zaporozhye region that had been destroyed by US-supplied ATACMS missiles.
"The first sight that we encountered in Tokmak was a massive crater from a missile that had exploded just a few feet from a kindergarten playground," said Hinkle.
The journalist added that on his visit to another site targeted using US missiles 'I didn't see Russian military supplies' but instead 'I saw school supplies. I saw children's toys'.
"The horrifying acts of terrorism carried out against civilians in Tokmak and the reckless jeopardisation of nuclear safety at the Zaporozhye power plant illustrate a deliberate strategy of violence and escalation rather than a genuine pursuit of peace," said Hinkle.
"The people of the Donbass, who have endured immense suffering, are now experiencing a measure of hope and rebuilding under Russian efforts. A hope that stands in stark contrast to the false portrayals of Russian aggression and Ukrainian victimhood," he added.
Hinkle quoted Julian Assange, who said that 'if wars can be started by lies and peace can be started by the truth', stating 'it is imperative that we confront these falsehoods and work towards de-escalating the conflict'.
Ukraine has repeatedly and strongly denied targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure during the ongoing conflict with Russia. Kiev has not commented at time of publication on the claims made in the press conference.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
LPR, DPR 'endured decade of bombardment, terrorism, brutality' - Independent delegation condemns 'Ukrainian victimhood' after Donbass visit
Lawyer Daniel Kovalik, journalist Jackson Hinkle and the International Secretary of the Communist Party Christopher Helali shared their experiences of a visit to the Donbass, stating that 'this war did not begin in 2022, it began in 2014' and criticising the West's 'myopic narratives', in a press conference on Wednesday at the UN headquarters in New York City.
"We were not hosted by the Russian government. We weren't even hosted by Russian citizens. We were hosted the entire time by people who were born in Ukraine," noted lawyer Dan Kovalik.
Kovalik explained that their host had been present at the Odessa Trade Union Building on May 2, 2014, when 'rioters who were loyal to Kiev burned the building down with people inside it, murdering 48'. He stated that it 'helped spur on the people of Lugansk and Donetsk to seek independence from Ukraine because it was targeted against Russian-speaking people'.
The lawyers stated that some believe the 'right to independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics is greater than that of Kosovo, while the West has chosen to recognise 'Kosovo as an independent republic' but not 'Donetsk and Lugansk, for political reasons'.
Kovalik also claimed that Kiev is 'shelling civilian buildings', after which 'the Russians go in and help start rebuilding'. "I'd like to compare that to how Israel is going to treat the people of Gaza after they've destroyed 75% of their infrastructure," he concluded.
International Communist Party secretary Christopher Helali reported visiting 'mass graves containing hundreds of dead civilians' and claimed there were 'instances of war crimes committed by the Ukrainian military'.
"What we discovered provided a completely different understanding that went beyond the myopic narratives proffered by the mainstream media here in the United States and in the West," said Jelali, adding that "this war did not begin in 2022 with Russia's special military operation; rather, it began in 2014."
"I want to emphasise this point: The people of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics in the Donbass have endured a decade of bombardment, terrorism, and brutality, all of which have been severely under-reported or even misreported in the West," said Jelali.
Jelali said that their delegation included two Georgian citizens, adding that they 'fear that the next front for the United States and NATO will be in the Caucasus as it was in 2007-2008'.
Journalist Jackson Hinkle reported seeing civilian infrastructure in the city of Tokmak in the Zaporozhye region that had been destroyed by US-supplied ATACMS missiles.
"The first sight that we encountered in Tokmak was a massive crater from a missile that had exploded just a few feet from a kindergarten playground," said Hinkle.
The journalist added that on his visit to another site targeted using US missiles 'I didn't see Russian military supplies' but instead 'I saw school supplies. I saw children's toys'.
"The horrifying acts of terrorism carried out against civilians in Tokmak and the reckless jeopardisation of nuclear safety at the Zaporozhye power plant illustrate a deliberate strategy of violence and escalation rather than a genuine pursuit of peace," said Hinkle.
"The people of the Donbass, who have endured immense suffering, are now experiencing a measure of hope and rebuilding under Russian efforts. A hope that stands in stark contrast to the false portrayals of Russian aggression and Ukrainian victimhood," he added.
Hinkle quoted Julian Assange, who said that 'if wars can be started by lies and peace can be started by the truth', stating 'it is imperative that we confront these falsehoods and work towards de-escalating the conflict'.
Ukraine has repeatedly and strongly denied targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure during the ongoing conflict with Russia. Kiev has not commented at time of publication on the claims made in the press conference.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
Mandatory credit: UNTV, News use only
Lawyer Daniel Kovalik, journalist Jackson Hinkle and the International Secretary of the Communist Party Christopher Helali shared their experiences of a visit to the Donbass, stating that 'this war did not begin in 2022, it began in 2014' and criticising the West's 'myopic narratives', in a press conference on Wednesday at the UN headquarters in New York City.
"We were not hosted by the Russian government. We weren't even hosted by Russian citizens. We were hosted the entire time by people who were born in Ukraine," noted lawyer Dan Kovalik.
Kovalik explained that their host had been present at the Odessa Trade Union Building on May 2, 2014, when 'rioters who were loyal to Kiev burned the building down with people inside it, murdering 48'. He stated that it 'helped spur on the people of Lugansk and Donetsk to seek independence from Ukraine because it was targeted against Russian-speaking people'.
The lawyers stated that some believe the 'right to independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics is greater than that of Kosovo, while the West has chosen to recognise 'Kosovo as an independent republic' but not 'Donetsk and Lugansk, for political reasons'.
Kovalik also claimed that Kiev is 'shelling civilian buildings', after which 'the Russians go in and help start rebuilding'. "I'd like to compare that to how Israel is going to treat the people of Gaza after they've destroyed 75% of their infrastructure," he concluded.
International Communist Party secretary Christopher Helali reported visiting 'mass graves containing hundreds of dead civilians' and claimed there were 'instances of war crimes committed by the Ukrainian military'.
"What we discovered provided a completely different understanding that went beyond the myopic narratives proffered by the mainstream media here in the United States and in the West," said Jelali, adding that "this war did not begin in 2022 with Russia's special military operation; rather, it began in 2014."
"I want to emphasise this point: The people of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics in the Donbass have endured a decade of bombardment, terrorism, and brutality, all of which have been severely under-reported or even misreported in the West," said Jelali.
Jelali said that their delegation included two Georgian citizens, adding that they 'fear that the next front for the United States and NATO will be in the Caucasus as it was in 2007-2008'.
Journalist Jackson Hinkle reported seeing civilian infrastructure in the city of Tokmak in the Zaporozhye region that had been destroyed by US-supplied ATACMS missiles.
"The first sight that we encountered in Tokmak was a massive crater from a missile that had exploded just a few feet from a kindergarten playground," said Hinkle.
The journalist added that on his visit to another site targeted using US missiles 'I didn't see Russian military supplies' but instead 'I saw school supplies. I saw children's toys'.
"The horrifying acts of terrorism carried out against civilians in Tokmak and the reckless jeopardisation of nuclear safety at the Zaporozhye power plant illustrate a deliberate strategy of violence and escalation rather than a genuine pursuit of peace," said Hinkle.
"The people of the Donbass, who have endured immense suffering, are now experiencing a measure of hope and rebuilding under Russian efforts. A hope that stands in stark contrast to the false portrayals of Russian aggression and Ukrainian victimhood," he added.
Hinkle quoted Julian Assange, who said that 'if wars can be started by lies and peace can be started by the truth', stating 'it is imperative that we confront these falsehoods and work towards de-escalating the conflict'.
Ukraine has repeatedly and strongly denied targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure during the ongoing conflict with Russia. Kiev has not commented at time of publication on the claims made in the press conference.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.